Physiological Systems (PSYS)

The Physiological Systems concentration area is focused on biological processes at the physical, mechanistic, and systems levels. We provide training for tackling fundamental problems of biological systems, using multidisciplinary approaches and cutting-edge technologies. With strengths in physiology, biophysics, and computational biology, the University of Maryland is uniquely positioned to provide training to graduate students interested in the functional and mechanistic understanding of biological processes.

Example Research Areas:

Students that choose the Physiological Systems Concentration Area pursue research that reaches across the fields listed here, many of which are also represented in overlapping programs across the university:

Biophysics
Biomechanics
Computational Biology
Developmental Biology
Endocrinology
Neuroscience
Physiology
Plant Physiology

Admissions, Financial Aid, FAQs

Please see the BISI Program main site for information on how to apply to the program and other related questions.

Courses and Degree Requirements

The Concentration Area Director, with the assistance of the Graduate Admissions Committee and the advisor (if identified), serves as the initial advisor for all entering PSYS students for their first year. Since PSYS spans biological disciplines, only two specific courses are required, an ethics course and the graduate seminar. In addition, students should choose three core courses to provide training in their research area, in consultation with their Advisory Committee.

PSYS graduate seminar
Bioethics
Three core graduate level courses (2-4 credits each) that address contemporary issues in physiology, biophysics, biomechanics, computational biology, development, endocrinology, neuroscience, and physiology.
Participation in an approved Statistics course (600-level or higher), or a more appropriate graduate-level quantitative course in consultation with Advisory Committee members.
A minimum of 12 semester hours of doctoral research (BISI 899).

For most students, the core requirements plus several advanced courses serve as the primary academic load during the first year of study. Exceptions to requirements 3-4 will be considered for students with extraordinary preparation by the Concentration Area Council after approval by the student’s committee.

The current core courses are shown below. Others may be added, with permission of the Director and first year committee.

BIOE 603: Electrophysiology of the Cell (3 credits)
BIOE 602: Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics (3 credits)
BIOL 622: Membrane Transport Phenomena (3 credits)
BIOL 651: Physical Chemistry for Biologists (3 credits)
BIOL 708L: Quantitative Analysis of Biological Data (4 credits)
BIOL 708O: Cell Biology from a Biophysical Perspective (3 credits)
CBMG 688W: Principles of Microscopy (2 credits)
NACS 643: Computational Neuroscience (4 credits)
NACS 644: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (4 credits)

Students must attain a grade of "B" or better in the lecture courses, and a grade of "S" in Bioethics. These grades are mandatory for continued enrollment in the graduate program.

In addition to course offerings, students are expected to attend department seminars on a regular basis and one journal club a year. There are currently several journal club options available in areas including: bioinformatics, evolution and development, neurobiology and plant biology among others.

Laboratory Rotations

The PSYS Concentration Area allows two laboratory rotations in the first semester that last 7 weeks each. Additional rotations can be performed in the winter break or spring if the student does not declare a lab after the fall rotations. Rotations are set up by each student after meeting with faculty performing research that interests the particular student.

The Second Year:

Students will generally complete elective courses and any other course work by the end of the second year. The University has no formal course credit requirements for Ph. D. students other than the completion of at least 12 credits of Ph. D. Dissertation Research (898 and 899 credits). Before the end of the fourth semester, the adviser and the student should also submit to the Graduate Director the names of other faculty members who will serve as the student's Research Committee. The student's research advisor serves as the chairman of this committee, and it becomes the responsibility of the committee to guide the student through the remainder of the graduate program.

Ph.D. Program Candidacy Exam Procedure:

The Ph. D. student has two important meetings with the student's research committee in the third year. Specific details regarding the preliminary committee meeting and the requirements for the qualifying exam can be found here.

It is expected that the student should be able to complete the research necessary for writing the Ph. D. dissertation within two to three years following the candidacy examination. The student is required to meet with the Research Committee on a yearly annual basis. The research for the Ph. D. degree must establish the student's ability to perform independent and creative scholarly research that makes a substantial contribution to our knowledge about an important question in biology. The ability to do high-quality research must be demonstrated by the submission and the defense of a Ph. D. dissertation.

Affiliated Institutions and Research Partnerships

Institutions and Centers

College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences
College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Food and Drug Administration Laboratories (FDA)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History (NMNH)
USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center
Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (CBCB)
Maryland Biophysics program

Funding Opportunities

Please see the BISI Program’s main site for general funding information. There are several awards and fellowships offered through the College of Chemical and Life Sciences and various affiliated departments that students can apply for.